southpaw817
17 Oct 2007, 05:49 PM
Soccer Notebook(From NY Times)
At Times, a Star Enjoys Blending In
By JACK BELL
Published: October 17, 2007
Few soccer players in the world have elicited such rapt devotion as the lissome French striker Thierry Henry. In the United States, however, Henry is merely another guy in short pants on the field and another guy in designer clothes off it.
International Leagues
“I think everybody knows I love America,” Henry said late last week in a telephone interview from Clairefontaine, France, where he was training with the national team for qualifying matches for the 2008 European Championship. The French earned a 6-0 victory over the Faroe Islands on Saturday, when Henry tied Michel Platini’s record with his 41st goal for France. They play today against Lithuania.
“I always say that one day I can play over there,” Henry said. “I would love to. But it’s still early. Don’t get me wrong, I just love the U.S. I don’t know why. I love the way you live. I love American sports. For me, it’s a dream to go to training and then see a game of football, basketball, whatever game. For me, New York is the best city in the world.”
Henry is far from anonymous in the United States. He was surrounded by fans last season at Madison Square Garden when he attended a game between the Knicks and San Antonio, and watched his friend Tony Parker of the Spurs. (He was the best man at Parker’s wedding to the actress Eva Longoria in July.) Now a couple of companies are seeking to exploit Henry’s smart and balanced personality and introduce him to a wider American audience.
Henry is now appearing with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods in advertisements for Gillette. Henry was unveiled Oct. 3 as a global ambassador for the Tommy Hilfiger Group. What is different, however, is that the proceeds from sales of a limited-edition apparel collection will be donated to Henry’s One 4 All Foundation. Henry also started the Stand Up Speak Up campaign to fight racism in soccer.
“It is important to me,” he said of the One 4 All Foundation. “I grew up in a bad neighborhood, there wasn’t the best school, but I was happy. But I do think that kids need to be in an environment where they can hope; they need to dream. What I’m trying to do through the foundation is to improve facilities and to encourage their education.”
Henry grew up in Les Ulis, a southwestern suburb of Paris. His father is from Guadeloupe and his mother from Martinique, and Henry is no stranger to racism, on and off the field.
“We still have the same problem everywhere — Spain, Italy, other countries,” Henry said.
Henry has a new address this season. He traded North London for the northeast of Spain, shifting from Arsenal to Barcelona. He was part of the neo-French invasion of England in which Arsenal, under Coach Arsène Wenger, won the English Premier League and Football Association Cup titles in 2001-2. He is Arsenal’s career leading scorer with 226 goals in all competitions. In the 2003-4 season, Henry and Arsenal raced undefeated through the Premier League season to another title with 26 wins and 12 ties.
Henry moved to Barcelona in June, in a $32 million transfer deal, and signed a four-year contract that will pay more than $9 million a year.
In Barcelona, Henry said he had found a new, energizing environment among the club’s galaxy of stars, which includes Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Lilian Thuram and Deco. After a slow start because of stubborn groin injury, Henry has settled into the starting 11.
Henry noted, “Arsenal and Barcelona have the same approach to the game.”
During the Spanish league’s winter break, Henry said he planned to travel to Los Angeles to catch the Spurs play the Clippers and to watch some Lakers games.
“When I go to see a game, it is never boring,” he said. “As a young person, I grew up with Michael Jordan ... . I love the speed, everything, especially more now that I have friends in the N.B.A.”
Was he surprised that he was recognized at the Garden last year?
“I would love to say yeah, yeah, yeah, I was recognized, it is great,” he said. “But what really surprised me was when I saw Spike Lee wearing my Arsenal jersey. It blew me away, to be honest. I didn’t know he was into soccer, but I knew he was a Knicks fan.
“Yes, I do get recognized when I’m in the States sometimes, but it’s not like in Europe. In New York and in America, I can be myself, I have no eyes on me. It’s O.K. if I want to buy a slice of pizza, pay the man and sit on a bench. I can go to the cinema and watch a movie, and nobody knows who I am. You don’t know how great that it is.”
He will come over just in time for the debut of the new NY franchise :D . This is wonderful that players are looking to come play in the US,the exposure will only grow from here. And as far as the racism, I have a feeling many of the great black players from around the world will start to come and play in America instead of dealing with the racism that they receive in Europe. In America we love our atheletes regardless of color. We have come a long way since Mr. Jackie Robinson.
At Times, a Star Enjoys Blending In
By JACK BELL
Published: October 17, 2007
Few soccer players in the world have elicited such rapt devotion as the lissome French striker Thierry Henry. In the United States, however, Henry is merely another guy in short pants on the field and another guy in designer clothes off it.
International Leagues
“I think everybody knows I love America,” Henry said late last week in a telephone interview from Clairefontaine, France, where he was training with the national team for qualifying matches for the 2008 European Championship. The French earned a 6-0 victory over the Faroe Islands on Saturday, when Henry tied Michel Platini’s record with his 41st goal for France. They play today against Lithuania.
“I always say that one day I can play over there,” Henry said. “I would love to. But it’s still early. Don’t get me wrong, I just love the U.S. I don’t know why. I love the way you live. I love American sports. For me, it’s a dream to go to training and then see a game of football, basketball, whatever game. For me, New York is the best city in the world.”
Henry is far from anonymous in the United States. He was surrounded by fans last season at Madison Square Garden when he attended a game between the Knicks and San Antonio, and watched his friend Tony Parker of the Spurs. (He was the best man at Parker’s wedding to the actress Eva Longoria in July.) Now a couple of companies are seeking to exploit Henry’s smart and balanced personality and introduce him to a wider American audience.
Henry is now appearing with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods in advertisements for Gillette. Henry was unveiled Oct. 3 as a global ambassador for the Tommy Hilfiger Group. What is different, however, is that the proceeds from sales of a limited-edition apparel collection will be donated to Henry’s One 4 All Foundation. Henry also started the Stand Up Speak Up campaign to fight racism in soccer.
“It is important to me,” he said of the One 4 All Foundation. “I grew up in a bad neighborhood, there wasn’t the best school, but I was happy. But I do think that kids need to be in an environment where they can hope; they need to dream. What I’m trying to do through the foundation is to improve facilities and to encourage their education.”
Henry grew up in Les Ulis, a southwestern suburb of Paris. His father is from Guadeloupe and his mother from Martinique, and Henry is no stranger to racism, on and off the field.
“We still have the same problem everywhere — Spain, Italy, other countries,” Henry said.
Henry has a new address this season. He traded North London for the northeast of Spain, shifting from Arsenal to Barcelona. He was part of the neo-French invasion of England in which Arsenal, under Coach Arsène Wenger, won the English Premier League and Football Association Cup titles in 2001-2. He is Arsenal’s career leading scorer with 226 goals in all competitions. In the 2003-4 season, Henry and Arsenal raced undefeated through the Premier League season to another title with 26 wins and 12 ties.
Henry moved to Barcelona in June, in a $32 million transfer deal, and signed a four-year contract that will pay more than $9 million a year.
In Barcelona, Henry said he had found a new, energizing environment among the club’s galaxy of stars, which includes Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Lilian Thuram and Deco. After a slow start because of stubborn groin injury, Henry has settled into the starting 11.
Henry noted, “Arsenal and Barcelona have the same approach to the game.”
During the Spanish league’s winter break, Henry said he planned to travel to Los Angeles to catch the Spurs play the Clippers and to watch some Lakers games.
“When I go to see a game, it is never boring,” he said. “As a young person, I grew up with Michael Jordan ... . I love the speed, everything, especially more now that I have friends in the N.B.A.”
Was he surprised that he was recognized at the Garden last year?
“I would love to say yeah, yeah, yeah, I was recognized, it is great,” he said. “But what really surprised me was when I saw Spike Lee wearing my Arsenal jersey. It blew me away, to be honest. I didn’t know he was into soccer, but I knew he was a Knicks fan.
“Yes, I do get recognized when I’m in the States sometimes, but it’s not like in Europe. In New York and in America, I can be myself, I have no eyes on me. It’s O.K. if I want to buy a slice of pizza, pay the man and sit on a bench. I can go to the cinema and watch a movie, and nobody knows who I am. You don’t know how great that it is.”
He will come over just in time for the debut of the new NY franchise :D . This is wonderful that players are looking to come play in the US,the exposure will only grow from here. And as far as the racism, I have a feeling many of the great black players from around the world will start to come and play in America instead of dealing with the racism that they receive in Europe. In America we love our atheletes regardless of color. We have come a long way since Mr. Jackie Robinson.